Over 50 students worked on The Descent, in various capacities including: producing, acting, camera, sound, wardrobe and production design, editing, and visual effects.
The Gospel.
By Greg E. Gifford
Each person understands that there are moments in our world where wrong occurs. Sure, there are lovely sunsets and wonderful beach vacations, but there is also relationship conflicts, financial mis-dealings, theft, or school shootings that remind us everything is not okay. The Bible says that God originally created everything according to His perfect design (Gen. 1:18, 21, 25). But the Bible then says that man would choose to rebel against God’s good plans and choose sin over obedience to a good Creator, the consequences of which were that sin would now permeate everything (Gen. 3:14-19). The original beauty of the world would now be corrupted by the sinful choices of mankind, choices that still reverberate to our day. Yes, there are aspects of beauty but there is this lurking knowledge that says, “something isn’t right.” That’s true. Something isn’t right because now, after Genesis 3, sin would taint all that mankind does and estrange mankind from their Creator.
As you read the pages of the Bible, and reflect on your own experience, you find that sin is the problem. It is the wedge between a righteous Creator and mankind. God, in His mercy, could have snuffed out humanity upon the first rebellion of mankind, but would instead would mercifully provide a remedy for the sins of mankind: a Savior. A “Savior” implies that one needs rescuing from something. Practically, you don’t need a Savior if you are just fine—“there is no problem here.” But the Bible portrays mankind as in desperate need of a Savior who could offer reconciliation with their Creator (2 Cor. 5:21). A Savior that is the righteous fulfillment of what man could not be (Heb. 4:14-15). A Savior who would restore God’s purposes for creation. The problem of man is that of sin that has reared its ugly head in just about every manifestation conceivable: death, conflict, murder, lies, and corruption to name a few.
The solution is not self-help. We need more than a few tweaks. The answer is not we need someone to simply “re-direct” us. No, we are totally lost according to the Bible. We are not even close to the right direction. Rather, the Bible says that we are like “dead men” (Eph. 2:5). Dead people don’t need resuscitation. They don’t need a makeover. Dead people need life. This is the state of mankind naturally: we are not good people. We are dead people in need of rescuing. Hear the words of Titus: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (vv. 4-5). Jesus is the Savior who appears to rescue you and I from our sins. He grants pardon and forgiveness through one means alone: faith and trust in His work. His work is his death, burial and resurrection so that man can be right with God (1 Cor. 15:1-5).
When answering the question, how do we respond to be rescued, Peter’s answer was, “Repent” (Acts 4:38). Yes, “repent.” Turn from your ways to God’s ways through Christ (1 Thess. 1:9). When you come to the point of needing a Savior, you turn to that Savior knowing they are your only hope for rescuing. The essence of repentance is turning from your sins to a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Dead people need life and Jesus, the Savior of mankind offers it by faith in Himself. Faith in His work. Today is the day of salvation if you will—by faith—come to Jesus and acknowledge your sin, confess him to be the new boss of your life (Rom. 10:13). Believe in His work as the only remedy for salvation and live your life with Jesus as the boss. He will by no means turn those away who diligently seek Him. Won’t you come to him today?
About Our Cinema & Digital Arts Program
The Master’s University’s Cinema and Digital Arts (CDA) program aims to equip students with the tools needed to compete in the evolving world of mass media. Our program is unique in that it teams students alongside industry professionals, giving them the opportunity to create productions on par with the entertainment industry.
Cinema and Digital Arts is distinctive because of its approach in training the next generation of artists in a Christ-focused environment. We recognize God as the ultimate creative force, and we endeavor to reflect and communicate this throughout the program.
The CDA program has created award-winning film productions that have received industry notoriety and have been distributed on platforms like Amazon, Pureflix, and UPtv.
Our location in Southern California allows us access to industry professionals working in various arenas of media, securing noted guest speakers and prime internships.
Our course offerings provide a conceptual and practical experience as well as world-class professional training and equipment. Students graduate from the program possessing a combination of knowledge and practical application with respect to pursuing their vocation (including credited, quality productions that can be used on resumes and production reels).
Over 60% of our alumni work in the broad spectrum of media, including: YouTube, Film production, TV production, Church media, and Business marketing and media.
Our Summer Production program consists of five different classes: production, camera, set decoration/costumes, postproduction (editing), and marketing; where students collaborate with industry professionals on a full-length feature film. This program is an extremely unique and immersive series of classes that help students experience what it is like to work on a legitimate production.
Below is a link to link to our first feature film The Man From Nowhere. https://manfromnowheremovie.com/
You can view the rest of our student productions at: https://vimeo.com/tmucomm
Our 2nd full length feature film entitled “The Descent” is a suspense/thriller in the vein of A Quiet Place, set during the events of Revelation 9.
